Joretta Cathey Wallin

Joretta Cathey Wallin, 89, of Candler departed this world for her heavenly home on September 21, 2022.

She was born on January 5, 1933 in Candler, NC to the late James Franklin Cathey, Sr. and Beulah Baumgartner Cathey.

She was a member of Snow Hill United Methodist Church. In her early years, she loved singing in the choir, teaching Sunday school to youth and adult groups, and especially loved being part of the United Methodist Women. In addition to her church work, she was an avid community volunteer who participated in collecting for the Cancer Society, the North Carolina Census, and served as the President of the Parent/Teacher Organization (PTO).

She loved being a mother, homemaker and was an extraordinary cook! She also chose to remain at home as long as one of her children was there. When they were all in school, she returned to the work force and later retired from being the switchboard operator at Apple Tree Chevrolet.

She was a gifted writer and wrote and shared many poems. There never was a word she could not spell! She created beautiful framed art pieces of crewel embroidery, but her absolute favorite hobby was “making crosses”.

Fall was her favorite season and so it is only appropriate that she left us during the time when she anticipated the return of crispness in the air and the changing of colors. She loved to travel but always said that “North Carolina was the garden spot of the world.”

Her smile and her eagerness to open her home to friends and neighbors alike will be missed. She challenged all of us to excel and have a positive impact on our world. She had a strong faith and never failed to talk of God’s goodness and His great plans for our lives. She loved her family and will be greatly missed by all who knew her.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Broughton Wallin, and brothers, Paul Edwin Cathey and James F. Cathey, II.

Those left behind to cherish her memory are her brother, Robert Ervin Cathey (JoAnne); 4 children: Debra Luther, Dianne Workman (Dan), David Hinson (Kim) and Daniel Hinson (Roxie); 5 granddaughters: Heather Colburn (Brad), Shannon Driver (Chris), Jennifer Berrier (Jonathan), Megan Hollingsworth (Josh), and Kayla Hinson, and grandson, James Hinson; and 8 great-grandchildren; Macey and Garrett Hannah, Micah and Ryker Hollingsworth, Tyler and Logan Colburn, Zachary Price and Zayden Driver.

Dementia is a cruel disease. It robs you of the ability to communicate with those you love. The last few years have brought great sadness to our family because dementia took away our mom’s ability to be present with us. Our family is beyond grateful to the staff at Brookdale at Walden Ridge for their care, love and patience. It takes special people to care for those who have been imprisoned by this horrible disease. We also give special thanks to Four Seasons Hospice who brought comfort and care to Mom the last week of her life.

In lieu of flowers, please feel free to make a donation to your favorite charity.

The celebration of her life will be held on Sunday, October 16, 2022 at 2:00 pm at Francis Asbury United Methodist Church in Candler, with the Rev. Dianne Johnston and the Rev. Avery White officiating. The family will receive friends following the service. There will be a private burial at Pisgah Memorial Park Cemetery. We also wish to thank Penland Family Funeral Home for serving our family.

To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Joretta Cathey Wallin, please visit our floral store.